This tool for Windows 11 restores you all the missing functions of the taskbar

This tool for Windows 11 restores you all the missing functions of the taskbar

  Windows 11 is Microsoft's new operating system, and it's a system that arrived with many good changes and performance improvements compared to Windows 10. However, they also lost things along the way, which is most notable in one particular section: the taskbar.

  In Windows 11, you can't move it to the sides or to the top, you can't drag a file to a pinned icon to open the corresponding program, you can't use small icons, you can't separate windows of the same app instead of stacking them all inside the icon, etc.  With ExplorerPatcher, you can do all this again and more.

  While Microsoft is already testing back some of the more important features that were lost in Windows 11, we won't see this for at least a year with the first major system update in 2022. In the meantime, of course.  over there.  Already a third party solution for that.

  This solution is an open source tool called ExplorerPatcher, which is a small hack that consists of adding a .dll file to your Windows folder to return the bar to the same state it was in Windows 10.

  Windows 11, Analysis: Details windows ... for details ignored

  This means that all toolbar functions that work in Windows 10 will work again in Windows 11. Now, it is important to keep in mind that this is an operation that must be performed at your own risk, the dll file is the file that modifies the system (at least the explorer part  .exe), and it's possible that your browser or Windows 11 itself will detect it as malicious, it's a positive error.

  Its creator explains that if this bothers you, you can check out the code shown on GitHub or even compile the tool yourself.  If these aren't options for you and you're still not sure, don't read on.

  Copy the dll file to the Windows folder

  The first very important thing to keep in mind is that once ExplorerPatcher is installed, you will not be able to undo changes easily using the Uninstall button.  So my recommendation is that before you start with that, you can create a restore point to go back to to easily undo all changes if you want to.

  On the tool's version page on GitHub, you need to download the dxgi.dll file.  It is possible that your browser is blocking the download, you will have to skip the warning and keep the file manually.

  Restart Windows Explorer from Task Manager

  Once downloaded, you must copy the file to the path C:\Windows and then restart Windows Explorer.  This can be done by opening Task Manager and searching for the process in the list, or by running the command taskkill /f /im explorer.exe

  Once Explorer restarts, you will see a notification telling you that some icon files are missing.  The download will start from Microsoft itself and in a few seconds you will see another notification saying that ExplorerPatcher has already been successfully installed.

  After starting for the first time, ExplorerPatcher will actually return your bar to the status of Windows 10, however, you will see that something is missing: the icons will not appear in the notification area.  To do this, you must open the properties of the tool.

  This can be done by pressing Windows Key + X and then choosing Properties, or by right-clicking on the taskbar and then properties.  In the latter case, you will notice that all the old right-click options appear on the ribbon and only the only configuration option we have in Windows 11.

  When you open the properties of

 ExplorerPatcher you see several options.  Most importantly in the "Taskbar" section, where you find the option to activate the tray icons that do not appear.  Simply click on Enable Missing System Tray Icons and a Control Panel window will appear where you can choose the icons you want to see.

  The tool provides several options for customization, such as displaying small icons or stopping icon merging on the taskbar.  There are also options to change some of the new aspects of Explorer, the Start menu, the window manager, and more.

  If you want to move the bar, either to the sides or up, just right-click on it and unlock it.  Then drag it to the desired position.